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(No Model.) I

I T. S. LA FRANCE, DBO'd.

A. LA FRANCE, Executrix.

v PUMP VAL E. I N0 556,507. U Patented Mar. 1'7, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRUOKSON S. LA FRANCE, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK; ADELIA LA FRANCE EXECUTRIXOF SAID TRUCKSON S. LA FRANCE, DECEASED.

PU M P-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed Au u t 14, 1895T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,TRUoKsoN S. LA FRANCE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Elmira, in the county of Ghemung and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pump-Valves, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in valves adaptedfor use in steam fire-engine pumps, and especially applies to the valvesused upon the suction side of such pumps.

The objects of my improvement are to so construct the valve and its seatas to provide the largest possible port-area in any given size of valve,to reduce the lift of the valve, and to provide a valve that shall closeor open quickly upon the change of stroke of the pump-plunger. I attainthese objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section of the valve and itsseat, the valve being shown in its open position. Fig. 2 is a front viewof the valveseat,the valve and valve-stud being removed. Fig. 3 is thesame section shown in Fig. 1, the valve being shown in its closedposition. Fig. 4 is a front view of the valve detached.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The valve-seat A has the attaching-rim 1, shown, as I prefer to make it,circular in form and screw-threaded into the valve-partition. Projectingfrom this rim is the outwardly-inclined flange 2. A seating-surface 3,of rubber or other resilient material, is sprung around the flange, and,in addition to being held in place by its incline, is cemented theretoand also to the face of the attaching-rim. From the opposite side of theattaching-rim the inwardly-inclined rims 4 extend into thesuction-chamber of the pump, and hold there in the plate 5 to which isattached the second seatingsurface 6 of the same material as thefirst-named surface. The ribs are lozengeshape in cross-section, asshown at 00 0c in Fig. 3, so as to present sharp edges to the waterflowing between them, and also so as not to reduce the port-area. Thediameter of the seating-surface 6 is less than the inner diameter of therim 1, and said surface is set away Patent No. 556,507, dated March 17,1896. Y

. Serial No: 559,306. (No model.)

from said rim to such a distance that the area them shall be equal tothe area of the annular opening between the said rim and the valvestud8. The valve-stud 8 is formed with a reduced portion 9, which isscrew-threaded into the plate 5, a socket of sufficient depth beingformed therefor by means of the boss 10 which projects from the back ofthe plate. This reduced portion of the stud is of such length that whenit bottoms in the socket the shoulder on the stud will hold the washer 7snugly against the seating-surface 6. The seating-surface 6 is alsocemented to the plate 5, but the washer forms the main securing means.

The valve B is made wit-h two rims 11 and 12, upon which are formedseating-faces to correspond with the seating-surfaces of the valve-seat,these rims being joined together and held the required distance apart bythe shell or tubular body portion 13, which is curved outwardly where itjoins the rim 11. The rim 11 is broad and has a flat surface ofconsiderable area on either side thereof. Arms let extend from thecurved portion of the valve-shell inwardly to the hub 15, which guidesthevalve upon the stud 8. The arms 14 have a depth equal to or less thanthe radius of the curved portion of the shell, and are also V-shaped incross-section, as shown at y y, Fig. 3, in order that they may presentsharp edges to the water ilowin g through the valve, and also that theymay not reduce the port-area, as explained farther on.

The arrows in Fig. 1 indicate the course of the water through the valve,and it will be seen that there are two channels through which it passes,the one outside of and around the shell 13 and the other within theshell and around the valve-stud. The curve in the shell prevents an eddyin the outer current of water and also increases the area of the innerchannel, so as to provide for the increasing thickness of the arms 14and to prevent the obstruction of the outlet of this channel by thelight helical spring 16 commonly used in this class of valves. The shell13 in practice will be made thinner than it is shown in the drawings andwill subtract little from the port-area. The valve is so proporof thefrustum shaped opening between,

tioned that the area of the passage within the shell 13 shall be equalto that of the passage between the rim 12 and seating-surface 6, and thearea of the passage around the shell shall be equal to that of thepassage between the rim 11 and seating-surface 3 when the valve is fullyopen. By constructing the valve and its seat in this manner it will beseen that they are, so to speak, submerged in the suction-chamber, andthe water has easy access to and is provided with two free and directchannels through and around the valve, ob structions being reduced to aminimum. It will also be seen that in this way I attain a minimum liftof the valve for a maximum port-opening.

The flat surfaces of the outer valve-rim make the valve more sensitiveto the inflow and backflow of fluid through the valve, and in this way Iprovide a valve that will open or close more rapidly upon the change ofstroke of the pump-plunger.

In fire-engine pumps it is a desideratum to get the water into the pumpas quickly as possible, and in pumping with a considerable lift the morerapidly the valves close the more rapidly will the air be pumped out ofthe suction-pipe and the required degree of vacuum be attained. As thereis a free channel within the shell 13, no air or water can be trapped infront of the seating-surface G to retard the closing of the valve.

As this valve is especially designed for use in pumps where it must beset in the vertical position shown in the drawings, and as therenecessarily will be wear in the hub 15 as it slides upon the valve stud,it is essential that the seating-surfaces shall be in parallel verticalplanes to allow for the settling of the valve.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the circular formof valve shown,-

as it may be readily seen that other forms may be adopted withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A valve-seat comprising an attachin g-rim having a seating-surfaceattached thereto, ribs projecting from the opposite side of saidattaching-rim, a supporting-plate held by said ribs in a plane at somedistance away from that of the attaching-rim, a valve-stud standing outfrom said plate, and a second seatingsurface parallel to the firstsecured to said plate by means of a washer held against it by a shoulderon the valve-stud, substantially as shown and described.

2. A valve-seat made up of an attachingrim provided upon one side withan outwardly-inclined flange for retaining thereupon a resilientseating-surface, inwardlyinclined ribs extending from the other side ofsaid attaching-rim and projected into the receiving side of a pump, asupporting-plate held in place by said ribs, a valve-stud standing outfrom said plate and a second resilient seating-surface smaller indiameter than the first secured to said plate by means of a washer heldin place by a shoulder on the valve-stud; in combination with avalvemade up of two seating-rims adapted to seat upon said seating-surfaces,the outer one of said rims presenting flat surfaces of considerable areaparallel to the planes of the seating-surfaces, a shell, or tubular bodyportion, joining said rims and holding them the required distance apart,said shell being curved outwardly Where it joins the outer seating-rim,and arms connecting this curved portion with a central hub which isguided upon the Valvestud.

3. In a valve, the combination of two seating-rims, a shell, or tubularbody portion holding them the required distance apart, said shell beingcurved outwardly where it joins the outer seating-rim, and armsconnecting the curve of the shell with a central guiding-hub, said armsbeing, in depth, the same as, or less than, the radius of said curve,and tapering in cross-section, substantially as shown and for thepurpose set forth.

TRUCKSON S. LA FRANCE.

\Vitnesses A. S. DIVEN, IIOLLIS II. MILLs.

